Car accident news
18/10/2007

Whiplash ends up as broken neck

An elderly man involved in a car accident has revealed how he was told by doctors that he was suffering from whiplash – only to discover several days later that he had actually broken his neck.

The 82-year-old World War Two veteran was initially advised that he had received a whiplash injury in the smash and was given instructions to exercise his neck to alleviate the pain.

Four days later, however, the Lancashire man was in such pain that he paid £1,000 to get a second opinion from a private hospital. It was then discovered that he had actually broken his neck and doctors subsequently decided to screw a ‘steel halo' into his skull to prevent further injury.

The pensioner, a former Argyll and Southern Highlander, is outraged by the initial diagnosis and is thought to be considering making a medical negligence compensation claim.

He said, "I can't understand how highly-trained professionals can miss such a serious injury. When doctors say it is whiplash, you accept it.

"It was a relief to be told it was not serious. But it was impossible to get comfortable and I was in agony. I was horrified when I was told I had a broken neck."

In a damning indictment of medical care in the UK today, the 82-year-old claimed he received a better level of treatment during the war when he had to have shrapnel removed from his head than he did following his recent car accident.